Careers for medical laboratory professionals who want to get off the bench: molecular, cyto, histo, med tech, etc.

pharma, sales, job, hiring, career, recruiting, pharmaceutical, health care

When we go off to college, sometimes we choose a career that just does not satisfy our needs.  Many times scientists with the BS, MS, or PhD in the lifesciences or other science areas discover themselves to be unsatisfied with the job that they discover themselves in a year or two after graduation.  What seemed fun and exciting is now boring and oppressive.  Often the love of science and the desire to continue learning is still there, but not the desire to continue in the present career path.  If you find yourself in this career opportunity, here’s a list of possible career opportunities for you, complete with brief descriptions where needed.  These career opportunities in sales, service, and marketing exist in all areas of clinical sales:  clinical laboratory, clinical diagnostics, molecular, cellular, clinical device, biotechnology, histology, clinical laboratory, hospital equipment, and pharmaceutical.  If I miss any potential careers, feel no cost to add them in the comments below.  Okay?

POSSIBLE CAREERS FOR THESE WITH STRONG SCIENCE EDUCATION BUT NO LONGER WISH TO BE ON THE BENCH:

Sales

Inside Revenue Jobs - These are usually like call centers.  The key here is to be okay with the cold call and to have the optimistic attitude for success.  These career opportunities can be fun and lucrative.  They usually have set hours and require no trip.

Outside Sales Positions - These are usually field-based positions.  They require someone with a lot of self-discipline and of course, that “sales personality.”   These jobs can be extremely lucrative and have a lot of flexibility.  Depending on the size of the territory, the travel can be daunting.  You should consider going on a ride along if this is interesting to you - see this video for more info….  While I’m at it, I have three posts that explain different types of medical revenue– Part I, Part II, and Part III, as well as posts on pharma sales vs. clinical device sales, and how pharmaceutical sales compares.

Business Development/Technology Transfer - These career opportunities can range from someone who has a very strong technical understanding who investigates future products or acquisitions to someone who is a super salesman.  You got to clearly understand your personality and specifically the job you’re looking at.  These positions are all different.  Assume nothing - ask a lot of questions.

Technical Service 

Applications Specialists - Usually the “applications” part means that you will help make sure that the assay or test is working.  Your company may provide a platform and your responsibility is to help the customer get their assays working on your instrumentation.  This can be very challenging, and a fine field apps person has to be a great communicator.  These can be high-travel jobs.

Field Service Jobs - This career opportunity is usually responsible for setting up a new system that a customer purchased and troubleshooting when that system is not functioning correctly.  Those can be high-travel positions.  (click this link for more info)

Field Technical Support - Same as above.

Customer Service - Maybe the company needs an extremely technical person to help the customer purchase the correct products.  This will usually be a phone-based career opportunity.  The hours will be set and include very little voyage.

Technical Support - In-house - like the field-based position, but without the trip.  Communication skills for this career opportunity are really important.

Marketing

Marketing:  Strategic - (It’s important to note the difference between strategic and tactical.)  The strategic marketing person is responsible for figuring out where the company should invest for future products and what the specifications for these products should be.  This is an original-thought kind of person who understands the value of customer feedback and communication.

Marketing:  Tactical - This person usually supports the field sales force with bulletins, pricing, and product training.  Marketing job descriptions that don’t clarify tactical vs. strategic are probably both.  Many scientists pursue the MBA to move into marketing.  Product management jobs can have a lot of tour.  Be sure to ask about the requirements of every position.  Never assume everything in the interview process.

Some additional careers you might consider that use your technical background:
Science Librarian
Science Editor
Science Writer
Science Illustration
Quality Assurance

Teaching - You probably know as much about this as I do…BioJobBlog has a post on this, as well as other great info on alternative science careers.
Patent/IP work - Some scientists actually pursue a law degree to marry with the technology.  Every company will have one of these on staff or on retainer.

Can you think of any more?

If you’d like to be considered for sales, marketing, or technical support jobs like these, click here  to submit your information to PHC Consulting.

Article courtesy of  Peggy McKee - Owner / Senior Recruiter at the nationally
recognized clinical and medical revenue recruiting team of PHC Consulting.
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